Cronulla's impressive NRL mid-season form has continued with a hard-earned 26-12 win over North Queensland in Townsville.
Cronulla's march up the NRL ladder has continued at the expense of a depleted North Queensland outfit with a 26-12 win in Townsville.
In a top-four showdown, it was the Sharks who made all the running against a Cowboys team missing six of their regular starting side.
North Queensland rested Tom Dearden, Valentine Holmes, Jeremiah Nanai after State of Origin III while Murray Taulagi wasn't named because of COVID-19 protocols.
Reuben Cotter and Jordan McLean are still sidelined with hamstring injuries, gifting the Sharks a golden opportunity close in on top of the table Penrith..
And the visitors accepted their chances with open arms, powering to their fifth consecutive win.
They are equal on 26 points with the second-placed Cowboys and will continue their chase for a top-two berth in a tantalising clash with the Panthers next week.
"We just kept turning up and finding a way on goal-line D," Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon said of their efforts.
It was on full display in the eight minutes following halftime, he said, as the Cowboys scored before the break to narrow the margin.
But late in the contest at 20-12, winger Sione Katoa iced the game when he blitzed through a hole from a 30-metre scrum inside the Sharks' half to put the result beyond doubt.
His try backed up Teig Wilton's four-pointer 10 minutes earlier which swung the contest back towards the visitors after Jason Taumalolo was denied on the previous set of six.
The Cowboys co-captain ran straight at the line then stepped off his right foot to dive in under the posts but the try was disallowed by the bunker who deemed supporting player Reece Robson impeded the Sharks' defence.
That 12-point turnaround was the dagger in a gassed Cowboys side whose streak at home ends at five consecutive wins.
"A couple of those big moments went against us no doubt - that one hurts," Cowboys coach Todd Payten said.
"I don't like it (the decision) purely because it rewards a player for having a play-off.
"So yeah it's a big moment, and it went against us, but in the end they shouldn't have scored that next try."
In the opening half, Cronulla enjoyed a two-point buffer at the break in a defence-orientated opening 40 minutes.
They cracked the Cowboys in the third and 20th minutes with Jessie Ramien crossing for a double, claiming his fifth try in two games.
In between, North Queensland got on the board through Kyle Feldt after a slick play through the hands to their right edge.
Nicho Hynes kicked penalty goal from in front of the uprights to extend the lead to 14-6 with Coen Hess pinged.
But the Cowboys hit back after repeated six again infringements gave referee Adam Gee no option but to sin bin Blayke Brailey.
Chad Townsend put Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow through a gap to make it 14-12, but that would be the home sides' final points of the evening.
